Door operating means



Oct 27, 1931- G. M. FRENCH DOOR OPERATING MEANS Filed Deo. 22. 1930 2Sheets-Sheet Il: Z5

I N V ENTOR.

ATTORNEY oct. 27, 1931. G. M. FRENCH DOOR OPERATING MEANS Filed Dec. 22,1950 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

Patented ct. 27, 17931x UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR OPERATING MEANSApplication led vDecember 22, '1930. Serial No. 503,991.

This invention relates to door operating mechanism and has for itsprincipal object the provision of means whereby double doors, such asgarage doors, may be swung simul- 5 taneously to open or closedposition.

Another object is the provision of means whereby the operating mechanismmay be actuated from a distance.

Another object is the provision of means whereby certain mechanism isoperated to trip a tension spring'which, when moved to a predeterminedposition, will actuate the door operating mechanism.

if] ith these and other objects in view as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction,combination and arrangement of co-operating elements as hereinafter morespecifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawingsforming a part of the present application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiments of my invention,the same .being taken on a .plane just below the ceilingy of a garage.

F ig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 the ceilingand roof being shown in this view.

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. l, disclosing a modified form of myinvention.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views.

3 is a guide bar reciprocally mounted in suitable guide brackets 4,which guide brackets are secured to the ceiling ofthe garage or asuitable platform 5. Secured to the top and bottom faces of the guidebar 3 are U- brackets 6 and 7 Extending through the U- 7 and guide Vbar3 is a bolt 8,

brackets 6 and which is headed at one end and provided with a lock-nut9. Pivotally attached at one end to the bolt 8, between the U-bracket 7and the guide bar 3, are connecting rods 10 and 11. The opposite ends ofthe connecting rods 10 and l1 respectively, are pivotally Vsupported inbearing brackets 12 and 14 secured to the inner face-'of the garagedoors 15 and 16,'in spaced relationship from the hingeslf and 50. 18respectively. The connecting rods .1() :and

l1 are preferably offset intermediate their ends as at 19 and 20 so thatthe outer ends thereof may be conveniently attached to the doors 15 and16 respectively. 21 is a lever arm pivotally connected at one end to abolt 22, extending downwardly from and secured to the ceiling or pl(tform 5. The opposite end of the lever arm 21 is forked as at 23, thefree ends of the prongs 23a and 23?) of the fork 23 converging towardseach other. The prongs of the fork 23 straddle the bolt 8 between theU-brackets 6 and the guide bar 3. 24 is an operating lever pivotallyconnected at one end to the bolt 22 and supported at its free end by theguide bracket 25, which guide bracket is sec ered to the ceiling orplatform 5. 26 are spaced apertures formed through the lever arm 21. 27is a bolt or stud extending through one of the apertures 26 and securedtherein by the lock-nut 28. 29 are spaced aperturesI formed in theoperating lever 24. 30 is a bolt or stud extending through one of theapertures 26 and secured therein by the lock-nut 3l. 32 is a tensionspring, one end of which is connected to the bolt or stud 27 while theopposite end thereof is secured to the bolt or stud 30. The bolts 27 and8O may be replaced in the apertures 26 and 29 inwardly or outwardlyrelative to each other to diminish or increase the tension of the spring32. 33 is a flexible member connected at one end to the free end of theoperating lever 24. The flexible member 33 is trained over the pulley34, extended out through an aperture 35, formed in the front wall of thegarage, and thence extended to a predetermined location. 36 is aflexible member :attached at one end to the free end of the operatinglever 24. The flexible member 36 extends through the opening 35 and to apoint adjacent :the free end of the fiexible member 33. Attached to thefree end of the flexible member 33 is a suitable ring or handle 37.Attached to the free end of the flexible mem ber 36 is a suitable ringor handle 38. Suitable .pulleys 39 and 40 may be provided, overwhichpthe free ends of the flexible members 33 and 36 respectively maybe trained and suspend'ed.

VReferring to F ig. l, it will be noted that the i operating lever 24 isretained in angularre-V lationship to the lever arm l21 by means of thetensionspring 32 which spring, through the mediums of the guide bracket25, bolt.

8, guide bar 3 and connecting rods 10 and 11, will retain the doors 15and 16 in closed posi# tion.Y i If desirous Vofopening the doors 15V and16,?V the operator will grasptheringSY and7 upon pulling the same, willcause. the flexible member 36 to pivot the operating lever 24 from thepositioniasshownin:fullk lines to the Vposition as shown indotteryljlines.V Vhen the operating lever 24 is pivoted to the posit-ionas shown in dotted lines, the tension spring 32V will be pivoted acrossunder" the bolt22 to a positionrepresented by the dotted liney 41 andthe Atension ofthe spring 82 exerted between the bolt 30 and the bolt 27will `ciausethe leverarm 21 `*to pivot onthe bolt bar lwill betransmitted through theconnec'ting rods 10 and 11 toovercom'e anyprimaryL friction in the connections and, if the device is ,being.operated 1n the winterwill'y cause any accumulation of ice orthe liketo be dislodged. is the lever arm 21 continues Y to move fromV-theposition as 'shown in full lines tothe position as 'shown in dottedlines,

guide bar 3,'connecting` rods 10' and llfan'd doors 15, andl will bemoved from the/posi#V tion' as shown in full lines to the position Vasshownfin dotted lines andwi'lljbe retained in A such position by thetension vspring 32. 4 s

' -When itis desirous Of-closing the doors `15,

vand 16, the ring? willbe pulled and,`throughV the medium of 'theflexible member 33, will 'I pivotthe operating lever 24from'the'position shown in` dotted lines to the position as .shown infull lines. As the operating lever 24is thus pivoted, the tension spring32 will be pivoted across under the bolt 22 to the position indicated bythe dotted line'42 andy the tensionof the spring `32 between the boltSO'and the bolt 27 will cause the leverV arm 21' to pivot from theposition asshown in dotted lines tothe position as shown in full lines.y

i Y Asmovement is thustransmitted tothe lever arm 21, 'the prong'23bwill'sharply` Contact with the bolt 8.V As .the 'lever'i-arm'2f1 con`tinues to move fromthe position'as shown in dotted lines totheYposition."asxshownin V'ulllinea guide bar 3,2 connecting rods 10 and vVA11; anddoors 1.5 and; 16Vk willbe` moved from vly,theposition' asshown inidotted lines tothe vlposition asshoivn infulllines, and `willbeer-etained m'such position byzthe tensionspring n .Referring to themodified-form offmy inventioni asdisclosed in Figli, Idispens with:Lezamav f v lines;

the guide bar 3 and guide brackets 4 andconneet the connecting'rods 10aand 11a to angularly disposed arms 21a and 21?) of the bellcrank 21o. vIn this modified form of my invention the tension spring 32aisrconnected between the bolts 30a and 27 a carried bythe opera-tinglever 24a and arms 2lb respectively. 33a is aflexible member connectedat one end to the Vfree end of the operating lever 24a.V Y The flexiblemember 33a is trained aroundthe pulley 3412,' around the pulley 34?),

through theopening 35a and is extended in asimilar manner tothelflexible member 33 as disclosed in FigfL 36a is a flexible memberattached to-one end of the free end of ytheoperating lever 1240i.` Theflexible mem- 'ber 36a'is trained over the pulley 340 through theopening 35a and is Yextended in asimilar man-ner to theflexible member3G as disclosed l/Vhen'it is .desirous .of'opening the doors `15a and16a, the flexible meinber86a isY pulled, causing the operating lever 24ato be pivoted from-the position as shown yinfuli lines to the positionas shownin dottedV lines. As vthe operating lever f 24a is thus moved,the tensionv spring 32a will'be pivoted across under the bolt 22a totheposition represented by thedott'ed line 41av and the tension of the jspring 32arbetween the rvboltsSOct and 27a w-illvcause the arms 21bland21a to pivot on the'bolt'22a frompthe position as shown in full linestothe position as shown in dotted As.: the yarms 21'?) andV 21a arelthus moved;V the connecting rods-.10ct and 11a will be moved 'fromtheposition as shown in full lines tothepositionas shown in dotted linesand-fthroughtheiv medium Yof `the bearing brackets 12a and14ciwillcause` the doors 150 and 16a to swingv fromV closed posi'tion'asshown inzfull lines to open position as shown in'dotted lines.-`

`Whenit is desirousV of closing the doors 15a 'andl6o,"the flexible'memberi will be pulled to pivot the operating lever 24a from vvtheposition VIAas shown inE dotted lines to the position as shown in "fulllines and the' tension spring 32a will be pivoted across under tlielboltV22` to the positiondesignated byy the dotted line 42d. Thel tensionspring 82a,

through .the'mediums of the bolt-s 27o and 30a will cause the arms 21'?)and 21a to move 'from the'positionas shown in dotted lines to theposition as shown in full lines and through the medium'of the connectingrods 10a and 11a will'causer the ydoors* v15a and'laito swing` from the.position Vas shoWn-in dottedV lines Y to they position asshown in fulllines. f

L The foregoing lsp.eciflcation and annexed drawings disclose thepreferred Vembodiment, ofiny inventio'm but'it is togbev understood that`minorV changes may be resorted to in the commercial adaptationof'myinvention withoutidep arting from the .sco

e'of thefinvention fas hereinafter'gclai'med. L' we Y. Y

What I claim as new is:

1. Mechanism for operating doors comprising connecting rods, one end ofeach connected to one of said doors respectively; a lever arm, to whichthe other ends of said rods are operatively connected; a tension spring,one end of Which is connected to said lever arm; an operating lever, towhich the other end of said tension spring is connected, said operatinglever being pivotally mounted in such a manner as to pivotally move saidtension spring to an angular position at opposite sides of said leverarm, upon movement of said operating lever in opposite directions; meansfor moving said operating lever in opposite directions and said springadapted to tensionally pivot said lever arm to cause said doors to openor close according to the direction of movement of said operating lever.

2. Mechanism for operating doors comprising connecting rods, one end ofeach connected to one of said doors respectively; a lever arm, to whichthe other ends of said rods are voperatively connected; a tensionspring, one end of Which is connected to said lever arm intermediate theends thereof; an operating lever, to which the other end of said tensionspring is connected intermediate the ends thereof, said operating leverbeing pivotally mounted in such a manner as to pivotally move saidtension spring to an angular position at opposite sides of said leverarm, upon movement of said operating lever in opposite directions; meansfor moving said operating lever in opposite directions and said springadapted to tensionally pivot said lever arm to cause said doors to openor close according to the direction of movement of said operating lever.

3. Mechanism for operating doors comprising connecting rods, one end ofeach connected to one orn said doors respectively; a lever arm, to whichthe other ends of said rods are operatively connected; a tension spring,one end of which is connected to said lever arm; an operating lever, toWhich the other end of said tension spring is connected; means forpivoting said operating lever and said tension spring to respectiveangular positions at opposite sides of said lever arm; and said springadapted to tensionally pivot said lever arm to cause said doors to openor close according to the direction of movement or" said operatinglever.

Ll. Mechanism for operating doors comprising guide brackets; a guide barreciprocally mounted in said guide brackets; a bolt carried by saidguide bar; connecting rods pivotally connected at one end to said boltand at their opposite ends to said doors respectively; a lever armpivotally secured at one end; a fork formed on the free end of saidlever arm, the prongs of said fork straddling said bolt; anoperating'lever pivotally se-

